Female reproductive hormone disorders

If you are feeling the effects of menopause, whether that’s hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, reduced sex drive, fatigue or extreme mood swings, you are probably eager to find relief from the havoc caused by your changing hormones. If you are embarrassed or bothered by hair loss, acne or unwanted hair on your face, you might be anxious to find a quick solution. If you have irregular or infrequent periods and would like to conceive a child, you are likely looking for answers and support. If any of these situations sound familiar to you, there’s a good chance that you are experiencing an imbalance of your female reproductive hormones. Although it’s natural for these hormones to fluctuate throughout your life, unwanted symptoms can make your day-to-day functioning more difficult. If you’d like to regain your equilibrium, London Medical can help. We offer lifelong support for women’s reproductive health from puberty to menopause. 

Every woman has two ovaries located on either side of the uterus attached by the fallopian tubes. The ovaries have two main functions. The first is ovulation – the production and release of an egg for fertilisation. If the egg is unfertilised, it results in menstruation. The second function is the production of various reproductive hormones. The most important of these hormones are oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. 

What are the female reproductive hormones and their functions?

Oestrogen and progesterone are instrumental for fertility and regulating your menstrual cycle, but they also play a vital role in other functions. Testosterone also plays an essential role for females as well as males. It is responsible for maintaining libido levels and bone and muscle health. 

Signs and symptoms of a problem with your reproductive hormones might include:

• absent or irregular periods
• difficulty conceiving
• delayed onset of menstruation
• increased hair growth on your face and body (hirsutism)
• acne
• hair loss
• weight gain
• dry skin
• hot flushes
• night sweats
• mood changes
• decreased libido
• vaginal dryness
• loss of bone density

What happens to your hormones during menopause?

When a woman reaches the age of 45-55, she will naturally reach the phase in life called menopause. When her ovaries cease to produce eggs, it causes a shift in hormones, most notably a drop in oestrogen.  

The time before the final period is called perimenopause. Perimenopause and menopause can be accompanied by many physical and psychological changes, including:

• hot flushes
• reduced libido
• vaginal dryness
• irregular periods
• dry skin
• mood swings and irritability
• depression/anxiety
• difficulty sleeping
• brain fog/forgetfulness
• bone and joint pains
• weight gain
• loss of bone density
• bloating
• involuntary urination

Just because menopause naturally occurs to all women doesn’t mean that you have to suffer from symptoms that disrupt your daily life and damage your relationships.  Hormone replacement treatment (HRT) is one solution that can help relieve your symptoms, protect your bones and heart health and improve your quality of life. Your consultant will assess your individual case and offer personalised advice and guidance on the best way to treat your symptoms. 

A reproductive endocrine specialist deals with the health and proper functioning of your reproductive hormones and your ovaries. They have experience in diagnosing and treating a hormonal imbalance so you can find relief from uncomfortable and disruptive symptoms. 

Book an appointment with one of our reproductive endocrine specialists today. 

Some of the most commonly experienced reproductive hormone disorders in females include:

• Menopause – When a woman stops having periods, she has achieved the menopause. If you are having a hard time with menopausal symptoms, we can help you find relief and improve your overall quality of life.

• Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) – Also called premature menopause, this is when the ovaries cease to function before the age of 40. We help treat the symptoms of POI, which are often severe, and offer fertility advice. 

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – This is a common condition affecting women of reproductive age. If you suffer from a hormonal imbalance in which your body makes more androgens (male hormones), you might have missed or irregular periods, excess body hair, acne or thinning scalp hair. We can get to the bottom of your symptoms and manage and treat your condition.  

• Infertility – If you have a problem with your ovulation or have been through cancer treatment, we are here to help you address any hormonal reasons for your difficulty conceiving. 

• Recurrent miscarriage – If you’ve been in the difficult situation of having two or more miscarriages, you are likely eager to discover the underlying cause and find a solution. We offer comprehensive analysis and personalised treatment to help you have the best chance of a healthy, full-term pregnancy. 

We also have experience treating patients with the following conditions:

• Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism – When the ovaries do not produce sufficient levels of the female sex hormones, the result is an absence of menstruation and a lack of oestrogen in the body. 
• Amenorrhea – There are many reasons a woman might cease having periods, including a lack of body fat or too much exercise. Sometimes, a hormonal imbalance is the cause. 
• Delayed puberty – There is a wide range of normal in puberty, with girls typically starting puberty between the ages of 8 and 13. If a teenage girl has not experienced any breast development by 13 or had her first period by 15, she is considered to have delayed puberty.  
• Hirsutism – Excessive hair growth on the face or body is often a symptom of an underlying hormone problem. 

Osteoporosis – This disease is characterised by decreased bone mass, making your bones more susceptible to fractures. The hormone oestrogen helps protect your bones, so women are more likely to develop osteoporosis during menopause or premature menopause. Your consultant can assess your bone mass density and advise you on the role of oestrogen treatment in protecting your bones during this time.